I have been "covering" my grays at home, with drugstore products, for over 20 years. I usually only do the roots, and I only need to do the front: that's the pattern that has been handed down through my genes.

Am I wasting my time trying to do a cg, no-sulfates, no silicones routine? About 3 months ago I stopped using the silicone-containing conditioner that comes with the store-bought hair dye, but haven't found anything to compare to it's ability to comb out my mane and "sleekify" my frizzy canopy. Dying my hair has become an even longer and more arduous process now that I don't use the silicone conditioner to help me get combed out and "smoothed" in the shower.

I'm only 46, and I'm not ready to go gray yet. Also money has been a consideration, hence the coloring at home with drugstore dyes.

You women and men have been a lifeline for me: please take the time to write if you are someone who dyes at home due to budget restrictions, and tell me honestly what you think my options are. Personally, I think the silicone-containing conditioners in the hair color boxes may be necessary again, just to sustain the appearance of smoothness (not to mention de-tangling properties) after coloring. (Maybe a lot of reparative conditioning in the interim 3-4 weeks could help?)

please take the time to write if you are someone who dyes at home due to budget restrictions, and tell me honestly what you think my options are. Personally, I think the silicone-containing conditioners in the hair color boxes may be necessary again, just to sustain the appearance of smoothness (not to mention de-tangling properties) after coloring.

Originally Posted by LoriLu

I dye at home (I have a LOT of gray) and I use Naturtint 5C for my color. It comes with a little tube of 'Nutrideep Multiplier' conditioner and shampoo; neither has silicones or sulfates. Sometimes I add a bit of my own (silicone-free) conditioner after I use theirs. I never have problems with slip or softness, although this hair color is ammonia-free so it's not quite as harsh.

So in my experience, yes -- you can color at home and use your own silicone-free conditioner with good results. (Right now the conditioners I use are Curl Junkie Beauticurls Strengthening Conditioner, GVP Conditioning Balm and Giovanni Smooth As Silk.)

I color my grays using Colorsilk (yep, the super cheap drugstore stuff), and I haven't had any problems with using my own CG conditioner. I just toss out the condish that comes with the dye, and use either my Yes to Carrots or Aubrey Honeysuckle Rose, leaving it on for a few minutes. Then rinse & my normal routine. Maybe you could try a different brand of color?

I have just used Garnier Olia to cover my greys. I tossed the conditioner and used GVP conditioning balm, but I almost did not need it, the color alone left my hair very soft and it covered the grey hair perfectly.

I hope these are available in local retailers... otherwise, do you know where I where can I order them?

please take the time to write if you are someone who dyes at home due to budget restrictions, and tell me honestly what you think my options are. Personally, I think the silicone-containing conditioners in the hair color boxes may be necessary again, just to sustain the appearance of smoothness (not to mention de-tangling properties) after coloring.

Originally Posted by LoriLu

I dye at home (I have a LOT of gray) and I use Naturtint 5C for my color. It comes with a little tube of 'Nutrideep Multiplier' conditioner and shampoo; neither has silicones or sulfates. Sometimes I add a bit of my own (silicone-free) conditioner after I use theirs. I never have problems with slip or softness, although this hair color is ammonia-free so it's not quite as harsh.

So in my experience, yes -- you can color at home and use your own silicone-free conditioner with good results. (Right now the conditioners I use are Curl Junkie Beauticurls Strengthening Conditioner, GVP Conditioning Balm and Giovanni Smooth As Silk.)

I have just used Garnier Olia to cover my greys. I tossed the conditioner and used GVP conditioning balm, but I almost did not need it, the color alone left my hair very soft and it covered the grey hair perfectly.

Originally Posted by Nikitakev

Well this sounds promising. I'll write it down. I had stopped looking at Garnier because of the price, (and I noticed all their "frizz control" products had all the 'cones and 'fates and stuff, so cheap as they were they weren't worth it to me.) and... I admit there were more colors to look at with Clairol nice & easy and Revlon and L'oreal. I have learned how to MIX color, even with more than one brand. (What a MESS!)

But just give me an idea, do we have similar hair? Are you young? 20's 30's 40's? How much percentage of your hair is gray? Is your hair coarse or fine? wavy or curly or kinky? I don't have much to give you because I am so "mixed." Half Italian and half god-knows what...maybe ancestry.com will help me figure that out...

I have just used Garnier Olia to cover my greys. I tossed the conditioner and used GVP conditioning balm, but I almost did not need it, the color alone left my hair very soft and it covered the grey hair perfectly.

Originally Posted by Nikitakev

Well this sounds promising. I'll write it down. I had stopped looking at Garnier because of the price, (and I noticed all their "frizz control" products had all the 'cones and 'fates and stuff, so cheap as they were they weren't worth it to me.) and... I admit there were more colors to look at with Clairol nice & easy and Revlon and L'oreal. I have learned how to MIX color, even with more than one brand. (What a MESS!)

But just give me an idea, do we have similar hair? Are you young? 20's 30's 40's? How much percentage of your hair is gray? Is your hair coarse or fine? wavy or curly or kinky? I don't have much to give you because I am so "mixed." Half Italian and half god-knows what...maybe ancestry.com will help me figure that out...

Thanks,

Originally Posted by LoriLu

I have been using Garnier color for a few years now, I have found it covers my greys the longest ( before I started cg), the spray gel from garnier also works great on my hair and its cg I believe.

I have long " wurly" hair ( I have everything from 2a to 3a ), medium porosity, medium elasticity, medium coarse hair, medium density ( I send my hair in for analysis ), I have single grey hairs interwoven in my crown only , I am German with ancestry from the Balkans . Oh and I turn 43 ( yeah ) this Saturday.

Hi - I'm very much older than you are and my hair is 2c/3a so I'm not sure how similar our hair is, but here's my input. I use L'Oreal Preference and I grayed young so I've been dying my hair since I was in my 20's.

I try to use a combo protein/deep treatment a few days in advance of using the color which I think makes the hair stronger and less prone to damage from the dye.

After using the dye I either use the conditioner with cones that comes with it or Curl Junkie Curl Rehab. The Curl Junkie is expensive otherwise I would use it exclusively because I think it leaves my hair in better shape than the conditioner that comes in the Preference box - it is terrific stuff and doesn't have cones, so, yes, I'm sure you can use a cone free conditioner and get excellent results.

If you find one that isn't very expensive that works great for you, please post back!

2/c and some 3A.
Protein sensitive but can use occasionally
Highly porous. Color over grey.
Best 1st day method: Super Soaker
Stylers: Mix Curls in a Bottle into everything for shine. Terrible pj
Sometimes try roller sets - classic glamor but I prefer my curls. Every day is a gift

The little bottle of color-safe conditioning shampoo that comes with it does have cones, but you don't need to use it. Sometimes I do, as I feel it helps seal in the color on my resistant gray, but other times I just rinse well and condition. LMK if you need any info on it.

If money is a consideration, it's more economical to purchase color and peroxide separately at the beauty supply and mix it yourself. You just get the proportion (I use 20 volume peroxide in two to one proportion with color) and mix it a bottle and apply to your roots. You can mix the amount you need for just your roots and you can blend more than one color to get the desired shade if you want and you can follow with conditioner of your choosing.